If you’re particular about how your music should sound, you probably are still stuck in the debate between a manual equalizer vs. using presets. Whether you’re using a music player app or an equalizer app, the real confusion is whether to fine-tune the sound to perfection for your ears or merely select presets and vibe to your favorite songs. 

Adjusting sound settings can significantly impact your listening experience. If you are still debating between custom EQ vs presets, you’ll find the right answer in this blog. 

In this blog, we will walk you through the differences between equalizer and sound modes, and help you discover the best one to match your vibe. 

Control sound with equalizers (EQ)

The equalizer plays an important role in personalizing sound. To get that perfect sound, you should know how to use an equalizer. 

You can also refer to the beginner’s guide to EQ to understand how to use an equalizer.

EQ lets you adjust bass, mids, and treble. If you are new to an equalizer, you may find it difficult to achieve the perfect sound. However, if you keep tweaking the sound settings, you will understand your listening preference and achieve the perfect sound for you.

Most music player apps have built-in equalizers to help you personalize your sound. For instance, if you are listening to rap or hip-hop, you can boost the bass if you prefer a thumping sound, and if you want to hear the vocals clearly, you can adjust the mids. This is particularly useful when listening to a podcast or an interview. You should look for an app with manual EQ if you want complete control over your sound. 

Pros of Manual EQ:

A good music player app can be ideal for beginners to learn how to fine-tune equalizer settings. Let’s have a look at its advantages. 

• Fine-tune sound and enjoy personalized music.
• You can adjust settings to compensate for weak bass.
• Excellent for fine-tuning headphones.
• You can make low-quality audio files sound better with the right EQ tweaks.

Cons:

• Not beginner-friendly, it can be confusing.
• If the frequencies are not adjusted properly, the sound can feel worse.
• It can be time-consuming, and if you are a beginner, you need to be patient to learn the right EQ settings. 

What are Presets?

Presets are like instant pancakes; they’re quick without the extra work. You don’t have to measure and mix; you just have to pick the flavor, and you’re ready for something delicious. 

Presets are ready-to-use settings, crafted for various audio genres. You don’t have to fine-tune the equalizer to get that perfect sound. All you need to do is pick your genre, and you’re good to go. Presets are perfect when you want quick results without much effort. 

The best EQ presets are tailored for popular genres like jazz, pop, rock, etc.

Best For:

• Instantly upgrades sound without manually fiddling with the equalizer frequencies.
• It’s perfect for casual listeners who want to enjoy great sound just by hitting play.
• It’s time-saving. You just have to pick from a list of presets, and you’re good to enjoy your favorite tracks.

Disadvantages:

• Not great for audiophiles.
• You can’t have full control over sound.
• Genres/variety can be limited.

Equalizer vs Sound Modes: The difference

High-quality music player apps have an equalizer, but also come with ‘sound modes’. As mentioned earlier, you already know what an equalizer is. What are sound modes? Some music player apps may label presets as sound modes. They are pre-designed sound settings, and they may also include virtual surround, spatial effects, or reverb. 

So if you are deciding between equalizer vs sound modes, go for whichever suits your listening preference. If you want precise sound, go for an equalizer, and if you want ready-to-use sound settings, choose sound modes. 

Custom EQ vs Preset

If you are confused about which one to choose, we will help you pick the best. It all depends on your listening preference.

If you love experimenting and tweaking all your sound, a music player app with manual EQ is for you. 

For casual listeners who want instant sound customization, presets are the way to go.

If you want to try both, use a sound customization app or a music player app, start with a preset and fine-tune it further.

Both custom EQ as well as presets help to improve your listening experience. Most music player apps offer you both options; it’s up to you to use the one that matches what you’re looking for.

Best Music Player Apps for EQ and Presets

Our best pick is Boom. It offers an 8/16 band equalizer and a list of presets to fine-tune sound. Boom is compatible with ANY headphones, even if you have budget headphones, you can still enjoy extraordinary sound. Additionally, you can experiment with various other features like 3D surround sound, an intensity slider, Headphone EQ, and more. It is also an offline music player app. 

You can download Boom from the App Store or the Play Store. It offers a 7-day free trial without purchasing the app. 

If you want to fine-tune sound on your laptop, you can download Boom 3D. It offers a 31-band equalizer with a long list of presets. You can download Boom for Mac or Windows. 

Tips to Experience High-quality Sound

Always use headphones and pair them with a music player app to enjoy high-quality sound. You need to experiment, test, and adjust the sound to your taste. 

Bottom Line

So, between manually adjusting an equalizer vs simply picking a preset, you need to choose the one that matches your style. The music player app, Boom, offers both. It’s time to personalize your favorite tracks with Booming effects. 

FAQs

What’s the best app to play music with EQ?

Boom is the best app to personalize sound. 

Is the Google Play Music app still available?

It’s been replaced by YouTube Music. 

Which is better, using an equalizer or picking a preset?

Both can help in personalizing sound. Experiment with both and see what works best for you.

Can I use manual EQ and presets together?

Yes, you can use them together; music player apps like Boom allow you to use these two features together. 

Do all music players have EQ?

Not all of them do. Some of the premium apps have the option to play music with EQ. Choose a music player app with an equalizer or sound customization feature.

Can EQ settings improve low-quality sound?

It can help to an extent, but can’t completely restore audio details.